Most proposed NG911 funding slashed from latest reconciliation-bill text

About 95% of once-proposed federal funding to accelerate next-generation-911 (NG911) deployment nationwide was eliminated from the text of the $1.75 trillion reconciliation bill that was released yesterday, although the $500 million included still would be the largest federal 911 investment in history.

Reconciliation-bill text calls for $470 million to fund a nationwide NG911 grant program that could be used to plan, deploy, implement and maintain IP-based next-generation platforms, as well as fund training of personnel. The proposal also includes $20 million for administrative costs, $9 million to establish a new NG911 cybersecurity center, and $1 million to establish a 16-member Public Safety Next Generation 911 Advisory Board to provide recommendations to the NTIA assistant secretary administering the program…

Hamilton County 911 Emergency Communications District To Provide Feedback Service (TN)

Residents of Hamilton County on Wednesday will be some of the first in the state to use a new citizen satisfaction and feedback solution after a call for service to Hamilton County 9-1-1 Unified Emergency Communications Center. This new service uses text messaging to contact some callers to the Emergency Communication Center that have reported or been involved in certain types of incidents.

These text messages are sent hours or sometimes a few days after a call for service and will ask citizens to take a quick survey about their experience with the Emergency Communications Center. It will also allow citizens to provide their own comments and feedback after receiving service…

Hank Investigates: 911 Pocket Dials (MA)

Hank Investigates: 911 Pocket Dials (MA)

(WHDH)– What if police couldn’t answer your 911 call because they were tied up investigating a mistake: Someone who called by accident. 7 Investigates found the number of those calls is increasing, and they’re diverting emergency crews away from people really need help! Hank Phillippi Ryan has the story.

The phone rings in the Littleton Police Department 911 call center. Bill Harrold, the dispatch supervisor, answers the call, “911, this line is recorded. What is your emergency?”

Bill is ready for any call that comes in. “Hello? You dial 911?” he asks the caller…

Momentum builds toward 988 line, other mental health crisis advances

Momentum builds toward 988 line, other mental health crisis advances

Weber Area 911 dispatcher Matt Graves works at dispatch and emergency services on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019.

It started when a young woman desperately sought help in a mental health crisis and her call went to voicemail. She then took her life.

State Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Sandy, told the story Tuesday as a national group of experts discussed the growing challenges of communities effectively responding to life-or-death behavioral health situations without throwing people in jail or handing them off to overwhelmed hospital emergency rooms…

Holy Hill concerns amid communications tower plan (WI)

Washington County is considering building a communications tower not too far from the iconic church that, in fall, offers one of the most iconic views in the state.

Holy Hill draws visitors from across Wisconsin to the town of Eric each year.

“Those from the area have grown up with Holy Hill, and when we say Erin, the home of Holy Hill, people know where we are,” said Maripat Blankenheim, town of Erin supervisor…